To be of service to the world with our words begins with the words we say to ourselves about ourselves. Do we use kind words or harsh ones? Do we tell ourselves how well we’re doing or are we always berating ourselves for not being enough?
To use words in service to yourself-
- Listen for any words you use to beat up on yourself and change them to positive words. Every day make a point to give yourself positive reinforcement. Tell yourself how pretty/handsome you are, how perfect your body is, how bright you are, how helpful you are to others, how successful you are, what a positive influence you have on the world, etc.
- Let the last words you say to yourself before falling asleep and the first words you say when awakening be, “I love me, and it was/is a beautiful day!”
To use words in the service of others-
- When angry, stop and breathe before speaking and ask yourself, “Are these the words I want to represent me?”
- When you hear another’s hurtful words, remind yourself that the other is speaking from his/her world view. Refuse to allow the other’s words to hurt your heart. Keep strong boundaries, but do not respond in kind or defensively. Instead, respond firmly and kindheartedly. For example, you might say, “Although I respect your opinion, I feel hurt by the choice of words.”
- Make a point to speak to all others with kindness, even when disagreeing.